South African flanker Joe van Niekerk has been ruled out of the World Cup after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the Springboks' 60-10 pool C victory over Samoa in Brisbane on Saturday.
Team management said in a statement from Brisbane today that the 23-year-old could be out for up to six months.
Van Niekerk, who scored the opening try after just two minutes in the rout of Samoa, was replaced early in the second half by Danie Roussow.